HEALTHY FAMILIES: State Announces Participating Plans
The California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board Thursday announced the participating plans for the state's new Healthy Families program. All total, 29 health plans, four dental plans and one vision plan were selected to serve the program (click here for a complete list of the plans). Enrollment for Healthy Families, which can accommodate up to 580,000 children at its current funding level, is scheduled to begin July 1. The program will provide comprehensive coverage to children ages one to 19 in families with incomes between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level.
Special Partnership
The state awarded a Healthy Families contract to a special partnership between the California Hispanic Health Care Association and California Advantage Inc., the California Medical Association's statewide health plan. Under the partnership, California Advantage will work with a total of 27 community clinics, including CHHCA and non-CHHCA members, to reach eligible children in 31 counties. The state contract will allow CHHCA and participating clinics to enroll their Healthy Families-eligible children in California Advantage. Primary care services will be delivered at the clinics, while California Advantage doctors will handle all specialty care. Altogether, the partnership will provide health care to more than 180,000 children. California Advantage CEO Ken Reuter said the partnership will allow the CMA health plan "to develop other private-sector options to expand health coverage to businesses that traditionally have not offered insurance to employees" (release, 4/17).